Non-productive time optimization for 5-axis EDM drilling using HVNTS algorithm

Abstract

This paper presents a hybrid variable neighbourhood search/tabu search (HVNTS) method and a neighbourhood generation strategy called pairwise inter-reshuffle (PIR) for process planning of 5-axis electrical discharge machining (EDM) drilling processes, which aims to minimize the total non-productive time of the machining process, including tool travelling time, tool switching time and Z-axis compensation moving time. To obtain a mathematical model of the non-productive time, a kinematic transformation and a Chebyshev distance function are then utilized. To solve the mathematical model efficiently, an HVNTS algorithm is applied as the model has a large number of 0–1variables. To improve the solution quality, the PIR method and a dynamic neighbourhood strategy are applied simultaneously and verified. The obtained simulation results demonstrate that the proposed basic and the improved HVNTS have a significant contribution in optimizing the non-productive time of the 5-axis EDM drilling process effectively.